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WAYNE, N.J. — New Jersey animal welfare hero Leslie A. Hoentz of Wayne died on March 17. He was 72.

"Les retired in 2016 from the Law Enforcement Division after 43 years of service, saving literally tens of thousands of animals from abuse and neglect throughout his long and distinguished career -- all without compensation," Passaic County SPCA said in a Facebook tribute.

"And in all his time with the Passaic County S.P.C.A., last week's monthly meeting was the first he ever missed."

Born in Passaic, Hoentz moved to Wayne in 1995 and retired as the chief of security for the Passaic Valley Water Commission in 2015.

He was a U.S. Army Veteran who served during the Vietnam War and suffered an injury that earned him a Purple Heart.

Hoentz was the former chief and current president of the Passaic County SPCA when he died.